Daimler AG has decided to discontinue its Maybach ultra-luxury cars after failing to find a fix for their dwindling sales and lack of profitability, barely a decade after resuscitating the Maybach brand.

Instead, the German luxury car maker said it plans to expand its top-of-the line Mercedes-Benz segment—the S-Class—to six variations from the current three when a new generation of the flagship model is launched in 2013. Until then, Daimler said it would continue to produce the ultra-premium Maybach.

The Italian auto giant Fiat has had a difficult time re-entering the U.S. market this year after being away for decades. The main problem is that drivers have not warmed to the Fiat 500, the subcompact car that was meant to seize a retail beach head that would make way for a wider range of Fiat vehicles to be sold here.

But not enough people are buying the 500, and I think Fiat could have put a better foot forward in getting its U.S. business started.

The company has a number of brands under its umbrella, including Alfa Romeo, which has a more glamorous image and a more devoted following in the U.S. than the Fiat nameplate.